Denard Span is off the market. And Dexter Fowler’s market got even smaller Thursday afternoon.
The Giants agreed to terms on a three-year contract with OF Denard Span for $31 million, $10.33 million per season. The Giants said in the announcement that the deal with Span is pending a physical.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Span’s contract includes an incentives package. And Jon Heyman reported the performance bonuses could pay Span an additional $5 million.
Updated 10:45pm CST – The Giants announced Span passed his physical and his three-year, $31 million deal is official. Span received a $5 million incentives package and an option. According to John Shea, Span’s contract includes a mutual option for a fourth season for $12 million and has a $4 million buyout. Span did not hold a workout for teams, the Giants signed him after a meeting and negotiating with Scott Boras.
Denard Span landing a three-year contract with a fourth year option coming off an injury shortened season that included hip surgery in August proves once again why players love having Scott Boras as their agent.
Span was productive when he was not on the disabled list last season. The soon-to-be 32-year old outfielder (Feb. 27) hit .301/.365/.431 with 17 doubles and five home runs for a .796 OPS in 61 games. Span was coming off the second best season of his career, he just could not stay on the field last year.
Bob Nightengale reported the Giants never considered signing Justin Upton or Yoenis Cespedes before “turning to Span.”
The Giants, according to Ken Rosenthal, have committed $326 million to players this off-season. The Giants signed Jeff Samardzija ($90 million), Johnny Cueto ($130 million), Denard Span ($31 million) and Brandon Crawford to a $75 million extension.
John Shae explained that Dexter Fowler was not in the Bay Area to meet with the Giants. And being courtside with his financial advisor had nothing to do with the Giants. Fowler was in the area working out with Barry Bonds, his mentor.
With the Giants no longer an option for Fowler, the Nationals, Padres and Marlins are the other three teams, along with the Cubs, that have been linked to Dexter Fowler this off-season by the mainstream media.